Aside from being able to build credit and pay for purchases over time, having a credit card is part of everyday living in US. But the benefits of a credit card go far beyond simply building credit. Check out this list of lifestyle benefits that make a credit card a must have item.
1. Ordering food online
In addition to ordering “traditional” delivery food like calling for a pizza, there’s a new wave of American companies who automate the ordering process for getting food delivered. Places like GrubHub, Seamless, and OrderUp are all companies that not only deliver food from any restaurant, but they are also a huge part of the culture on college campuses. What’s the catch? They only accept credit cards.
2. Renting a car
America was built for the automobile. But most college students typically don’t have cars. At some point, you’re going to want a car so you can go on a roadtrip with friends or travel to a nearby city. However, the one problem is that in order to rent a car, you need a credit card.
3. Automating your finances
With a credit card you can automate your finances and set recurring payments for nearly all the bills in your life. You can automate paying rent to your landlord every month, you can automate your university tuition payments, and you can even automate your water, power, and cable bills. Just login, set up the recurring payments once and then never have to worry about being late on bills again.
4. Keeping records of your purchases
Unlike cash which can’t be traced, every purchase you make with a credit card is recorded. By logging onto your bank’s online banking portal, you can view exactly where you spent your money and how much you sent. This makes for an easy way to track your spending and see where you need to cut back if you want to save money.
5. Earning rewards
Another one of the many bonuses of credit cards is rewards points. Nearly every major credit card company has a rewards system that offers you points for spending a certain amount on your credit card. Most often, the points are redeemable for discounted airfare, and who doesn’t love a free vacation?
With all these great benefits, it’s no wonder that having a credit card is an essential part of life in the U.S. Get scored at SelfScore.com you’ll have a credit card on your first day at your new university.
